Under the Lights
Page 44

I turned back around, unable to watch them any longer. If that was what I thought it was, then Gunner was a bigger dumbass than me. He’d brought Serena to this dance for a sure thing. When it looked like he could have had Willa.
Chances were after tonight that Willa wouldn’t look at him the same way again. He had passed her off on me all week, and now he was at a dance with a girl dressed like a stripper. Smart.
Asa was my friend, but Willa was mine first. He’d have to just understand. I wasn’t letting my guilt issues with breaking things off with Ivy stop me anymore. She’d already ruined my last homecoming dance.
I Don’t Think He Has an Uncle
CHAPTER 37
WILLA
Comparing myself to someone else was never my thing. I was different in my own right, and I liked it. Now that I was comparing myself to Serena, part of me was ashamed of myself. The other part was giving in and measuring myself up against her. Problem was I was losing. Bad.
The skintight red dress she had on was so short, if she bent over you’d see her panties. I’d like to say she looked trashy, but she was every seventeen-year-old boy’s dream date.
My dress no longer seemed so great. It took all my willpower to look away from the stunning couple they made. But I did it. I was here with Asa, who wanted my company. Gunner obviously did not. Fine.
“Want a drink?” Asa asked, glancing at me almost nervously.
“Sure.”
“There’s West and Maggie.” He nodded in their direction. Brady was also with them. His back was to me, but even still, I liked the dark slacks he was wearing with the white oxford shirt. He wore it well.
Pointing out where West and Maggie were meant that was where we were headed, I soon realized.
Just before we reached them, there was a crash near the entrance, and everyone went silent as their attention was directed toward it. I stopped and turned like the rest of the room.
“Where’s my motherfucking uncle!” a guy yelled at the top of his lungs. He slurred his words and stumbled, further knocking over tables and decorations as he went. “I know he’s here!” The guy continued pointing as he turned in a half circle, squinting his eyes to focus.
“Shit,” Asa muttered.
I almost asked him who that was when I saw Gunner step in front of him and grab his upper arm. It all fell into place then. That was Rhett Lawton, Gunner’s brother. I hardly recognized him from six years ago. He looked more like a man now. He was calling Gunner his uncle to out him in public. The dirty secret the Lawtons were keeping was something Gunner wanted to remain a secret. Rhett should too, but it didn’t look like he wanted to.
“I don’t think he has an uncle,” Asa whispered. “Dude must be hammered or stoned.”
“I’ve got to go,” I said by way of explanation as I hurried toward the exit Gunner was pushing Rhett through while he railed on and on loudly about his uncle.
I think Asa called out “Wait,” but I ignored him. I had to help Gunner.
Rhett was taunting him when I reached them, asking for an allowance.
“Shut the fuck up,” Gunner growled at him, completely frustrated.
I opened the door and met Gunner’s gaze. No words were needed. He understood I was there to help. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his truck keys. “Go get my truck. It’s parked in the left parking lot near the sign.”
He threw me the keys; I caught them and nodded.
“Who’s she? Are you dating my uncle? He’s fucking loaded.”
“Jesus, Rhett, shut up!” Gunner ordered, jerking his brother hard until he was far enough away from the door that his voice wasn’t carrying inside.
“Everything okay?” Brady’s voice stopped me as I turned to go get the truck.
“Yeah, peachy fucking great. Can’t you tell?” Gunner snarled in response.
Brady shifted his gaze to me. “You leaving?”
“Going to get Gunner’s truck.”
He held out his hand. “Give me the keys. I’ll go get it.”
I looked to Gunner for direction and he nodded. He probably wanted Brady away from Rhett’s mouth. So I tossed him the keys and gave him the directions that Gunner had given me.
Once Brady was out of earshot, Gunner sighed. “What the hell are you doing, Rhett?”
Rhett jerked free of Gunner and threw his hands up in the air. “I’m coming to see the crown bastard prince! What does it look like?”
Gunner winced, and I wanted to go slap my hand over his brother’s mouth. Asshole.
“I’m taking you home,” Gunner said as he glanced back at the door to make sure no one else had followed us out.
“Do I still get to live there?” Rhett asked in his drunken sarcastic tone.
Gunner ignored him and turned his attention to me. “Will you go make my excuses? I can’t go back in there.”
“Yes,” I replied just as the door opened and out walked Asa, Serena, and Ivy, all looking for their dates.
“Shit,” Gunner muttered.
“I got this,” I assured him, and hurried toward them.
Ivy was surveying the area for Brady. Serena was glaring at me, and Asa looked concerned. “Brady has gone to get Gunner’s truck so he can take Rhett home. He’s had a little too much to drink. Why don’t we all go back inside and let them deal with Rhett.”
“I’m not taking orders from you. I don’t even know you,” Serena snapped in a haughty tone.
“Go inside, Serena. She’s helping me. Jesus you’re a bitch.” Gunner raised his voice enough that Serena snapped her head back as if he’d slapped her.